Automatic camera



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4&5 A54 Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT, olricr:v

BENJAMIN DAY CHAMBER-LIN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EASTMANKODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKAUTOMATIC CAMERA Application led January 29, 1921, Serial No. 440,908.Renewed July 25, 1929.

My present invention relates to photography and more particularly toautomatic cameras of the type in which an organized mechanism preferablydriven from a single y source of power, operates through a cycle toperform successively, a plurality of opery ations incident to making aphotographic exposure such as drivingr a shutter, Winding film etc. andthe invention has for its object to provide an improved camera of thisnature that will be particularly adapted for use in an aeroplane inaerial photography, particularly in mapping, surveying and topographicalWork generally. The improvements are directed in part toward the generaldriving and-controlling mechanism, the timing gear through which theproper frequency of exposure is effected, the shutter mechanism, thefilm Winding mechanism and the manual controls placed at a distance fromthe camera and near the operator and adapted to start, stop and adj ustthe various groups of gearing. To these and other ends the inventionresides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as Will behereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed outin the claims at the end ofvthe specification. In the drawings: r Figure1 is a side View of an automatic aerial camera constructed in accordancewith and illustrating one embodiment of my in-l view taken through theinstrument chamber of the camera, substantially on the line 51--5 ofFigure 2 Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional viewthrough theinstrument chamber and ,l also the exposure chamber of themain camera,on substantially the line 6 6- of Figure 5;

Figure 7i,i S anenlarged horizontal section through one 'off the twointerchangeable Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional types of rollholders that I contemplate using;

vFigure 8 is a vertical section through the same roll holder on the line8-8.thcreof;

` Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section through the same roll holderon the line 9-9 of Figure 7;l

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical section through the other type of rollholder;

.Figure 11 is a transverse section through the saine roll holder on` theline 11-11 of Figure 10;

vFigure 12 is an enlarged plan view of the' focal plane curtain shutterthat I prefer to use;

Figure 13 is a vertical section through said shutter on the line 13-*13of Figure 12;

Figurev 14 is a detail perspective View of one 'of the curtainslof theshutter and its Winding tapes;

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail section. on the line 15-15 of Figure 12,showing the relative positions of the tapes in fixing the shutteraperture; f

Figure 16 is a horizontal'section through the camera in the plane oftheshutter Winding rolls and the controllingl mechanism therefor, someparts of the camera being in elevation or broken away;

Figure 17 is a further enlarged section through the shutter controllingmechanism on the Iline 1?17 of Figure 16 Figure 18 is a verticallsection on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;

Figure l19 is an enlarged side elevation of the interior of the gearcase containing the general operating and controlling mechanism, theview being one taken from the direction of the interior of the camerabody;

Figure 20 is a vertical transverese section taken on the line 20-20ofFigure 19, looking in the directionof the arrow;

Figure 21l is-an enlarged view of part of.

vthe mechanism shown in Figure 1 9 and parso i ticularly Vof what I termthe frequency n mechanism AFigure 22 is la vertical section on the line22--22 of Figure 19;

"fFigure r23 is another vertical section on .taken substantially on theline 25-25 of Figure 21; g

Figure 26 is an enlarged detail View of parts of certain clutchmechanism taken in section in the plane of the line 26-26 of- Figure 22;

Figure 27 is a detail section through certain of the shutter drivinggear parts on the line 27-27 of Figure 23;

Figure 28 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 28-28 ofFigure 26 Figure .29 isla face view of the main cam of the drivingmechanism; p

Figure 30 is a face View, enlarged, of the shutter stop cam; I

Figure 31 is a fragmentary sectional view an the line 3l-31 of Figure19;

Figure 32 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away, ofthe stop pawlof the main clutch, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 21;

Figure 33l is a detail section on the line L3-33 of Figure 82;

Figure 34 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the distant controlmechanism located on the interior of the casing that is shown inelevation in Figure 3;

Figure 35 is an elevation of the hand-operated devices or control box ofthe distant control mechanism, and

Figure 36 is a section thereof on the line B6-86 of Figure 35.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

My improved camera herein described is preferably mounted in. theaeroplane and moved bodily to change the view in accordance with theinvention set forth in my copending application, Serial Number 537,099filed February 16th, 1922, now Patent 1,502,- 173, granted May 22, 1924,the 'present application being restricted to the camera per se and thevarious mechanisms associated with the operation of actually makingexposures.

To first give a general idea of the structure involved and itsaccomplishments, I provide a camera body disposed, in aerial work, withits optical axis vertical and fitted at the top with a detachablelight-tight roll holder that may be either of a type in which a roll offilm is exposed and rewound into va roll or one in which a roll of filmis exposed and the exposed areas immediately .severed and stored in adark chamber as separate sheets. The camera body includes a dark chambercontaining a number of instruments, the readings of which at the time ofmaking an exposure, are valuable in connection with a later reading ofthe photograph itself and through a separate lens but with the use of asingle focal plane curtain shutter, these instruments are photographedon the margin of the picture, the dark chamber being artificiallyilluminated electrically in timed relation to the movement of theshutter. A vacuum producing means holds the film fiat in the focal planeduring exposure.

The foregoing operations properly synchronized are effected through a.unitary driving and controlling mechanism embodying a motive poweroperating continually at uniform speeds. In regulatable` connection withthis motive power is a cycle member one revolution of which eitheractuates, trips, or stores energy in each of the various mechanisms,successively, these mechanisms being arranged in groups about the cyclemember. Several of these secondary mechanisms are not directly actuatedby the cycle member but by spring motors of their own which are trippedby the cycle member but rewound on the same cycle in preparation for thesucceeding cycle and exposure.

The camera may be used for snap shots at the will of the operator atirregular intervals by means of a hand trip that sets the cycle memberoff for the completion of one revolution only, or the mechanism may beset to automatically repeat and make successive exposures at regularintervals. This becomes necessary in mapping a country over which aflight is being made so thatV one picture will commence where the otherleaves off and when .ioinedtogcther will give a complete record of thecontinuity of the ground beneath. The frequency of the exposures' madesuccessively to this end de-v pends upon the speed of the aeroplane inrelation to the altitude, inasmuch as the view within the field of thecamera changes more or less rapidly according to the altitude at aconstant speed and according tothe speed at a constant altitude. For.this purpose I provide what I term a frequency mechanism adjustable atthe will of the operator and interposed in the driving connectionsbetween the continually running source of motive power and the cyclemember to time the intervals between which the latter is thrown intogear withV its driving element.

The regulation of this frequency mechanism, the hand trip, the size ofthe shutter aperture and other results are effected and controlled bymanually operable devices that are placed conveniently to the operatorsseat whether it be close to or far from the camera through the use offlexible connections in the present form of wire cables. Two counterskeep records of the exposures that have been made, one being placed forthe o era/- ictures are all consecutively numbered. eferring moreparticularly to the draw-v ings and to Figures 1.\to 6 thereof, 1indicates the main casing of the camera body havlng a tubular extension2 at the bottom" thereof and forming a main exposure chamber 3 at thetop of which is a frame 4 provlded with a main exposure opening l5 and asmall auxiliary exposure opening 6 distinct therefrom. The upperenlarged portion 7 of the frame 1 is fitted, as shown in Figure 5, withways 8 to receive a slidably detachable roll holder 9 having guides l()fitting the ways 8. Below the roll holder' and above the exposureopenings 5 and 6 is stretched the focal plane curtain shutter insegment13 with which meshes a pinion 14 v 4I n the present instance, 26 is acounter; 27 a.

carried on a shaft 15 in a bracket v16 on the extension 2. A universaljoint 17 between shaft 15 and a shaft 18 terminating in a bevel gear 19permits the diaphragm to be rotated and adjusted from a wheel 20 on theshaft of another bevel gear 21 meshing with the bevel gear 19, the saidupper gearing having bearings in au bracket 21. The Wheel20 is turnedfrom the distant control as in the making of other adjustments all aswill be hereinafter described.

Associated with the main casing 1 and adjacent to but separated from theexposure chamber 3 of the camera is a dark chamber 22 formed by a box orchest 23 secured to the exterior of the casing 1 as best shown inFigures 1 and 2. The interior of the dark chamber is accessible througha door 24 hinged at 25 and at the bottom of the chamber are located aplurality of'instruments 26, 27, 28 and 29, the readings of which, atthe time of an exposure, are of interest in viewing the picture itselfand which .it is desired to photograph on a margin thereof.

spirit level; 28 an altimeter, and 29 a compass, though a chronometermay be added to or substituted for one ofthese. The instruments are inthe focus of a separate short focus lens carried in a tube 30 andmounting 31 at the top of the dark chamber 22 where the latter isextended through an opening 32 in the shoulder of the main casing 1 andseparated from the exposure chamber A3 of the main camera by a partition33.. The lens 31 projects the image of the instruments through theexposure opening 6 onto the same film as that projected by the main lensl2 and under control of the same shutterA. i

Upon each cycle Aof operation of the camera, the counter 26 is actuatedand advanced one number by a vertical pull rod 34 pivoted to anoperating arm at 35 and effective upon its upward movement. The upperend of the pull rod is pivoted at 35 to an arm 36 on a rock shaft 37.Adjacent to the latter is the contact 38 (Figures 5 and 6) of a switchin the circuit of one or more electric lamps 39 iarranged in the darkchamber 22 to illuminate the instruments 26, 27, 28 and 29. Anotherlcontact member 40 on a rock arm 41 pivoted at 42 is adapted to engagecontact 38 and'close the circuit 'through the lamp as a preliminary stepin each cycle of operation of the camera. plished by a pin 43 on a rockarm 44 that engages an lextension 45 on the rock arm 41, the rockarm 44being inoved in a manner hereinafter described. This rock arm 44 returnsto the initial dotted line position of Figure 5 immediatelyafterthrowing `the switch and at the endof the cycle of opera-v This isaccomits movement to remain in any position to which it is rotated.

As before stated,-I may use and have shown herein two types of rollholders that are interchangeable and each of which is adapted toslidablyoccupy the Ways 8 of the upper extension 7 of the main frame. vReferringfirst to the one 'shown in F igires 7, 8 and 9, this comprises asubstantially rectangular casing 9 having rounded ends and containing afilm supplyroll 47 and a winding roll 48. The bottom of the casingcontains an exposure opening 49 that may be closed to render the rollholder light-tight when removed from the camera by a sliding .shutter 50which is shown in the open position in VFigures 6 and 7. This shutter iscomposed, in the present instance, of a thin, flexible, bronze plate,edges of which slide in guides 51 at opposite sides of the exposureopening 49 which guides are shown in section in Figure 9 to consist oftwo outer plates secured to. the bottom of the roll holder lcasing andan offset inner spacing plate of about the thickness of the shutterslide. These guides 51 extend beyond the opening 49" and up into theinterior of the casing 9 around one end thereof so thatl the shutter 50,when open, may occupy the posi open and closed positions, it is provided`on its longitudinal edges just` clear of VY'the guides 51 with .rackteeth 52, as shown in rio

